DIGITAL MEDIA

  • Digital imagery
    • o Uses an electronic image sensor to record images data vs. chemicals on film
    • o 2 types of sensors are CCD and CMOS sensors
  • Pixel – single element point or dot that contains color
    • o A pixel can only be on/off
  • Bit depth – the number of bits of information each pixel can understand
    • o The number of bits a pixel can understand is correlated to how many bits are in the monitor
  • 8 bit computer = 28 different colors can be displayed
  • Digital photography terminology
    • o Focal Length
      • § The distance between the center of a lens or curved mirror and its focus
    • o Aperture
      • § The opening that determines how much light you let into the camera
    • o ISO
      • § The measure of photographic film’s sensitivity to light
    • o Shutter Speed
      • § The length of time a camera’s shutter is open
    • o sRGB
      • § A standard RGB color space for use on monitors, printers, and the internet
    • o Exif data
      • § (Exchangeable image file format) a standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and tags used by digital cameras
    • o RAW image format
      • § A basic format with minimally processed data
  • JPEG
    • o (*.jpg) (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
    • o Standard web image file type
    • o Compressed, lossy
  • GIF
    • o (Graphics Interchange format)
    • o 256 colors maximum
    • o Can animate in short loops
  • PNG
    • o (Portable Network Graphics)
    • o Replaced GIFs because they’re much more flexible, color wise.
  • For small web graphics, use PNGs.
  • For animated web graphics, use GIFs.
  • Composition of photography
    • o Pick on focal point and isolate the subject
    • o Simplify your background
    • o Avoid unrelated subjects
    • o Rule of Thirds
      • § Avoid centering objects
      • § Place the center of interest in the intersection of the 4 imaginary lines in the rule of thirds